A new survey conducted by Bentley University and Gallup reveals that support for businesses taking a stance on current events is dwindling among Americans. The poll found that only 40% of American adults believe that businesses should weigh in on societal issues, marking a significant decline from previous years. Democrats were more likely than Republicans to support businesses taking a side, with 61% of Democratic respondents in favor compared to only 17% of Republicans. The survey also revealed that younger adults and individuals from minority groups were more inclined to support businesses taking a public stance.
The survey’s findings come as various companies have faced backlash and boycotts for expressing more liberal positions on issues like abortion and LGBTQ rights. Notably, respondents were most supportive of businesses taking a stance on climate change, while religion received the least amount of support. Conservative governors, such as Florida’s Ron DeSantis and Texas’ Greg Abbott, have taken action against companies they perceive as promoting “woke” ideologies. For instance, DeSantis restructured a special district that included Disney World after the company publicly opposed legislation related to parental rights in education.
The survey, conducted from May 8 to 15, involved 5,458 U.S. adults and carries a margin of error of 1.8 percentage points. Overall, these findings illustrate the changing attitudes among Americans regarding businesses involving themselves in current events.
